In a groundbreaking move, the Humanities Engineering Network (HEN) is launching a decentralized citizen science initiative aimed at uncovering the secrets of the ancient Maya civilization during a pilot project with the fantastic Prof. Kováč and his team that has been working relentlessly for years in the jungle of Petén, making strides in analysing the Maya urban settlement of Uaxactún, and sensationally discovering a lost Maya city, Los Abuelos, in 2023. By combining cutting-edge technologies like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and genetic analysis with blockchain-powered funding, HEN is pioneering a new model of research funding that empowers individuals to directly contribute to scientific discovery.
The Challenge: Traditional Funding Limitations
Traditional grant funding for archaeological research has often been slow and uncertain, limiting the pace and scope of discoveries. HEN’s approach for the Los Abuelos Maya project seeks to overcome these challenges by engaging the global community in a transparent and participatory funding model.
The Vision: Decentralized Citizen Science
HEN’s initiative allows supporters to fund specific components of the research, such as LiDAR surveys or genetic analysis, through a blockchain-based platform. Each contribution is rewarded with a unique digital collectible—an NFT (Non-Fungible Token)—representing a tangible piece of the research, whether it’s a LiDAR snapshot, a genomic fragment, or a processed site map. Our partner for this project is Galaxis and its founder Andras Kristof is speaking at Culture Hack 2025 to explain DeSci in more detail.
Culture Hack 2025 – initiative launch 🚀
The project will be highlighted at Culture Hack 2025, HEN’s experimental cultural-tech hackathon in Prague, where participants prototype projects at the intersection of history, archaeology, and technology. Culture Hack exemplifies HEN’s mission to break disciplinary silos and pilot new ways of funding and collaborating on research, giving citizen scientists the chance to influence the Maya project from its earliest stages. It also aims to fuel new forms of education so that the general public can best absorb these new findings and use them for their own enlightenment and enrichment. Projects such as Culture Quest are an inherent part of this, as well as Snížit Kultuře Práh, a project aimed to get disadvantaged groups of society to access culture and break down the stigma of cost and elitism around what heritage and culture has to offer.
And why bother with all of this? Why drag the past and future together?
History shows us that interdisciplinary cooperation can change the course of events. This is why we will have personalities like Iain Standen, CEO of Bletchley Park, speak at Culture Hack. At Bletchley Park, linguists, mathematicians, engineers, and historians worked side by side to crack the Enigma code, shaping the outcome of World War II. The same lesson applies today: complex crises — from climate change to digital security — cannot be solved in disciplinary silos. Archaeology is an important part of this puzzle, and empowering it through new models of research funding as seen in the Maya Project helps us see the light for this discipline and maximize its impact. This will also help us find new ways of financing cultural institutions in general while deepening visitor engagement, as will be exemplified by the talk of Ivo Macek, the Director of the Museum of Prague. We also wish to send out a heartfelt thank you to technologically progressive organisations such as the House of Lobkowicz, whose Proof of Patronage model and overall visionary approach to technology and culture has been a beacon of light in the heritage waters, and we hope to continue discussions and cooperation with them in the near and distant future.
The Impact: Advancing Maya Archaeology and setting a precedent for other projects
By leveraging LiDAR technology, researchers can reveal previously hidden structures beneath the dense jungle canopy, providing new insights into the extent and complexity of ancient Maya cities. Genetic analysis of ancient remains offers a window into the population dynamics, health, and cultural practices of the Maya civilization.
Supporter Levels & Rewards
Contribution | Badge / NFT | Rewards & Perks |
€10 – Maya Enthusiast | NFT of a LiDAR snapshot or genomic fragment | Begin your journey into the Maya world with a digital collectible representing a piece of jungle mapping or DNA research. |
€50 – Jungle Surveyor | NFT + full site LiDAR map or genome segment | Explore a complete site map or genome segment after initial research and publication, plus a curated research update. |
€250 – Petén Explorer | NFT + processed LiDAR/genome visualization | Early access to processed visualizations or summarized findings before broader public release, plus a themed thank-you video. Your name will be acknowledged in the publication or project report as a supporter. |
€1,000 – Patron of Los Abuelos | NFT + invitation to exclusive online lecture or Q&A | Attend a special live lecture or interactive session with the research team discussing the project’s results and fieldwork stories (post-publication). Your name will also be prominently mentioned in the publication or project report. |
Mechanics
- Each Digital Collectible reflects the component funded: LiDAR snapshots for mapping or genomic slices for DNA sequencing.
- Contributors can follow real-time funding progress and see exactly how their support translates into research.
- All funds go directly to advancing Maya archaeology.
- Higher tiers unlock thematic experiences like talks or early-bird summaries, but no unpublished data or sensitive findings are shared before proper academic review.
Join the Movement
HEN invites individuals worldwide to become part of this revolutionary approach to archaeology and culture. By participating, supporters not only contribute to groundbreaking research but also become stewards of cultural heritage, gaining access to exclusive content and direct interaction with the research team.
Learn more info about the project at the website humanitiesengineering.network , or its NFT & funding platform: Galaxis.xyz
